Wichita State Holding Forums To Discuss New Campus Weapons Policy

As the debate continues at the Kansas Statehouse over guns on campus, universities around Kansas are preparing for the law to go into effect on July 1.

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Wichita State University held a forum Thursday, the first in a series that will outline the school's new weapons policy. Basically, anyone over the age of 21 who can legally have a gun in Kansas can bring their concealed weapon on campus.

Students, faculty and staff at the forum had questions about whether any buildings will remain gun free—none right now—and if teachers can leave their guns in their offices—yes, if it’s in a secure storage device.

Sara Morris, chief of the University Police Department, says she expects her department will be fielding more questions as the school adjusts to the new policy.

“A big portion of what we’ll be doing for quite a while is education," she says. "Because we’re gonna get a lot more calls because people aren’t going to be comfortable with it, they’re not going to be sure, and that’s OK.”

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A Kansas law will allow guns on university campuses and in public hospitals later this year. Efforts to amend the policy have faltered in the Legislature, but the issue is likely to come up again after lawmakers return to the Statehouse in May.

The law says most public places in Kansas must allow concealed weapons, unless there is security in place to make sure no one carries a gun. An exemption for universities and hospitals expires this summer.

Members of the Kansas House shot down a motion to debate the issue of guns on college campuses. A move made by the chamber’s top Democrat would have forced the House to consider a bill regarding out-of-state concealed carry licenses. However, the real motivation was for critics of the state’s concealed carry law to propose changes during the debate.

House members rejected the idea of even bringing up the bill for debate on a 44-81 vote. Republican Majority Leader Don Hineman says they’ve been working on a compromise and most lawmakers want to continue those negotiations.

Kansas public colleges will have to allow firearms on their campuses starting in July. But they’re still battling with the gun lobby over how people should be allowed to carry their guns.

In preparation for the law mandating concealed carry on campuses, the colleges have proposed some restrictions. For example, people carrying a semi-automatic weapon on campuses would not be allowed to keep a round in the chamber.